Vatican City, Oct 21, 2003 / 22:00 pm
In an homage paid to Pope John Paul II, the newly appointed cardinals told the Pope that he can rely on them to be faithful servants of the Church.
Thirty-one cardinals were welcomed into the Roman Catholic Church yesterday at the Consistory held in St. Peter's Square.
"Until now, we have sought to serve the Church, doing our best. Now members of the College of Cardinals, we desire to profess before everyone our firm will to love the Church even more and to commit ourselves with abnegation in its mission of evangelization," said Jean-Louis Cardinal Tuaran on behalf of the new cardinals.
"Our sole ambition is to contribute to the growth of the Church in the third millenium," he continued. "With you, Holy Father, we want to proclaim to our contemporaries the sole Savior of mankind."
In his homage, Tuaran thanked the Pope for teaching, through his very person, that "the Church lives by Jesus Christ and for Jesus Christ."
"Thank you for having taught us this, over the past 25 years, with your words and examples," he concluded. "Holy Father, you can count on us."